Europe Trip Tyre Problem, HELP PLEASE!
 

Hey Guys, My son and I are going two up on my Tenere to Moldova, and we will be doing approximately 5000 miles, and the tyre will only last 3000 miles, we have been wondering, what should we do? our ideas so far were to either take a tyre on the back, or buy one and have it sent out to one of the camp sites we have booked, or even try to buy one out there? What do you think?

I think conti TAs would get you there and back.
Or what about a road tyre?
I'd use TAs
Rob

We use TKC80 by Continental, as we will be doing an amount off roading as well

Have you considered K60's ?, probably do double that mileage.

You don't want to carry one, it's takes up space, adds time packing & unpacking your luggage, and adds weight... and despite what Ewan & Charlie might imply, it doesn't make you look hardcore, just like a rag-and-bone man...

You ought to be able to get one sent to you anywhere - either before or during your trip. You could either send it beforehand to the furthest point you intend to travel to (ie. half way through the trip) which would appear to be the most sensible option - although the danger there is you will be changing it when there is still plenty of meat left on it, which might be a bit frustrating...

Or else simply get someone back in the UK to sent to somewhere to coincide with your return trip... a 48 hour courier to Europe is not expensive in the grand scheme of things regarding the whole cost of your trip?

Of course you'll always be able to find something that will fit locally, it might just not be your first choice of tread pattern?

Jx

I'd get a new tyre out there, won't be a problem. Eastern Europe is not as backward as it used to be! I went on a trip to Odessa on the Black Sea in 2008 (on a GSA) and got fresh tyres (front and rear) in the Moldovan capital Chisinau, without advance ordering. There is a BMW dealership there now (there wasn't then) and they'll certainly be able to get you some TKCs in, especially if you pre-order them before your trip, but even then you may be OK because the Z has the same tyre sizes as the new G650GS Sertao. I'll see if I can find the address...

Here you go...

Bukuriei Str. 18a , 2004 Chisinau
+373 22223399

or email bmw@bmw.md

Good luck with the trip, you'll enjoy it. I also went to Bulgaria in 1988 (on a CX500!!) and the changes in 20 years were quite amazing.

Mitas E-09 rear. Will last 5-6000 miles. Will still be fine for off-road for 3000 or so.


(I need a special button on the forum interface to allow me to post this with a single click every time someone posts a variation on "I want to use TKCs but the rear doesn't last long enough to actually ride anywhere")

I think that you are a little pessimistic about the tyre wear. I have had 2 XT660X's and sure I ride only on road and mainly solo, but I have had 8500 kms from my first bike before I changed tyres and the current one is at 6500 kms and plenty of tread left. I find that Pirelli Diablo were great for feeling but probably not for total kms. Good luck Simon

Fit the TKC 80's just before you leave home. They will easily last 5,000 miles unless you are a really aggressive rider :-)

I rode to Morocco and back last summer (3,500 miles) and still have the same TKC's on the bike now, and they have done another 2,000 miles mostly commuting to work.

The front still looks fine, the rear might last another 1,000 I reckon.